He lived, he laughed, he loved.
Connor Robinson did something remarkable that many aspire to accomplish: he lived a life worth living, full of joy and radiant euphoria. Connor’s life was marked with unparallelled brilliance, clever wit, and meaningful friendships. His stark individuality surpassed social boundaries, allowing him to connect to and touch the lives of everyone he met.
On Monday, October 27, Connor passed away in a car accident while heading back to Cornell College in Iowa. He was 18 years old and a part of the Wildcat family, a member of the Class of 2014.
Connor was, by all means, an academic giant. His stellar test scores and his thirst for knowledge combined to make him an inquisitive and impressive learner. Accepted into Cornell College with a near-perfect ACT score, Connor had high hopes of working for the State Department and pursued his studies in international relations with as much devotion as he had at Libertyville. Connor didn’t measure his success by how well he did on a test, but rather by how much he was able to learn and absorb.
“He wanted to understand things. He loved learning and being well educated,” noted Mr. Matt Thompson, the Model United Nations advisor.
Besides his classes, Connor displayed an affinity for clubs, particularly Model UN. Serving as part of the Model UN executive board, Connor played an instrumental role in the club: he inspired newcomers with his chill and cool demeanor and provided an example of what all delegates wished to emulate.
“He was a leader, but I don’t think he sought out the attention; people gravitated toward him. I think he just had that endearing quality and personality that people just sought him out as a leader,” recalled Mrs. Lauren Pothast, his AP Psychology teacher and Model UN advisor.
After graduating from LHS last year, Connor returned this fall and helped his old club host its annual school conference in September. He took an active role in committee, debating and helping his friends formulate solutions to the world’s problems. But Connor did something more important than help resolve international conflicts: he created and maintained relationships that left long-standing friendships.
Connor, with his smart mind and reserved ways, astounded people with his equally as formidable caring and loving nature.
“I felt like he was someone who understood a lot about me, and I didn’t expect that. I didn’t expect him to be so understanding, so compassionate, so kind…He was always there to support me when I needed a friend,” stated Haley Schueler, a senior and close friend to Connor.
His openness to understand and listen made him someone people wanted to meet, someone with a genuine approach towards life and a goodwill towards his friends. But perhaps what attracted people to Connor most was the fact that he was comfortable in his own skin and helped make people feel content in theirs.
“He knew he was a nerd, and he embraced that, but once again, [he] did not do it in an in-your-face kind of way. He just kind of put it on like a comfy shirt,” remembered Mrs. Lisa Robinson, Connor’s mother.
“I remember when Connor was little, we would go to this small community pool. His brother and sister would play in the water, but Connor just sat on the end of my lawn chair in the shade, playing with his trucks. He didn’t crave the action and adventure of the pool, he was just content to hang out with me,” Mrs. Robinson said.
That moment highlights a significant aspect of Connor’s personality. He didn’t care for the extravagant, but rather focused on the simple and paramount: his family and friends. He saw the potential in everyone and took the time to talk, care for, and love those he knew.
There was an outpouring of support and love for the family on social media following Connor’s passing, with friends thinking back on old memories and expressing their final thoughts.
“He was gifted and hilarious, and more than anything, he redefined cool for a lot of people who needed to feel confident as part of the nerd herd,” posted Chase Wonderlic, a friend of Connor’s and fellow member of the class of 2014.
The countless amount of posts, texts, words, thoughts, and memories that are mustered together makes one thing clear and indisputable: Connor Robinson had an impact. Connor Robinson touched people’s lives, and Connor Robinson changed everyone he met for the better.
Whether going for a meal to Taco Bell or single-handedly consuming a pack of Skittles, Connor made every moment special and meaningful to his friends. “It’s not about the time that I lost; it’s about the time I’ve been given with him,” reflected Schueler.
